We should not forget the Bayraktar frenzy of the first months of the war. Shahed is essentially the same thing as the TB series just a kamikaze rather than a delivery platform.
I thought it was named for the English electronics firm that helped spread the Culture by teaching men around the globe to curse like a Sergeant Major.
...which was itself a sophisticated copy, several eons removed, of the rude ironwood stick Ooog the caveman first threw at the rival leader of a gaggle of Neanderthals, when they met on a high plateau several hundred thousand years ago. It also was a cost-effective, independently-targetable, high efficiency guided missile. Amazing how history (or perhaps "herstory", as the feminists insist) cyclically repeats itself! ;))
This so called "weapon" is just another outrageous example of the lawless, corrupt Trump-Hegseth heretical-JCIDS-denying-crony-capitialism-out-of-control-defense spending. Bringing this travesty of a "weapon system" into the field without the proper in-depth studies, test plans, acquisition strategies, road maps and implementation plans is not only a major violation of acquisition policy and regulations, but has huge economic impact on prime defense contractors, K-street lobbyists, and recently retired SES and flag officers whose recent appointments (and exorbitant salaries) are proving to have a negative return on investment. I call on congressional democrats and RINOs in both the house and senate to formally sign a protest and appear at a rally to be held this weekend. This must not stand!.../SARCASM OFF...I'm kidding...sort of...
This is the kind of rapid development and employment last truly seen during WWII. Nothing says it has to be perfect, just functional and mission capable. Mounting on ships is kind of reminiscent of the large rocket batteries installed on LSTs and LCIs and used during beach landing bombardments.
A little off topic, but I have a board wargame called Omaha: The Bloody Beach (MMP/The Gamers). It models those rocket LCIs in a way that gives a whole new meaning to the term "beaten zone." Yikes.
Spent 20 years of my career trying to make that happen. Finally started to happen when the enlisted Marines noticed that the launcher software allowed them to get firing solutions on the moving deck when real missiles loaded. Navy Raytheon mafia pitched fits.
How about a proliferation of mobile, laser guided hydra rocket point defense systems now? Also seems like a good idea for low cost shipboard point defense.
One important good thing for US - American military finally saw that if other guys have efficient and perfected weapon system, then the simplest way to get one for themselves is just to copy. Not trying to develope something much better, spending billions; just took the existing design and adapt it.
P.S. Of course, now you can't claim that "China is stealing our tech!" anymore.
And by "swarm" we don't mean 10, or 20. How about 200 or 500 or more, coming from all points of the compass. Followed fifteen minutes later - the time it takes to dump the empty containers over the side and open the lids of the next layer - by another 200.
Launched from container ships laid up doggo in ports in Vietnam, Hainan, Taiwan, Shanghai, South Korea...
Or L.A., Seattle, Houston, Norfolk, New York, New Jersey...
Speaking of math, the strategic message to adversaries is that first, we have not yet really tried to be innovative just more adoptive and efficient. While you ponder that you might consider what $35M a day in desk top computers and pickup trucks delivered with the same efficiency might look like...
We should not forget the Bayraktar frenzy of the first months of the war. Shahed is essentially the same thing as the TB series just a kamikaze rather than a delivery platform.
I am only disappointed because the good commander gave away the secret of how LUCAS really got its name. 🥴
Hahaha...
Not sure how to form the acronym, LOCUST would have nailed it.
Just tack on Tactical on the end. Everything is better when it's Tactical don't you know!
I thought it was named for the English electronics firm that helped spread the Culture by teaching men around the globe to curse like a Sergeant Major.
Ironically, it appears that the Shahed was derived from the Israeli Harpy anti-radar drone, which itself is a derivative of a German Dornier drone.
I read somewhere that the original Iranian design used some US components, so turnabout seems to still be in fashion.
...which was itself a sophisticated copy, several eons removed, of the rude ironwood stick Ooog the caveman first threw at the rival leader of a gaggle of Neanderthals, when they met on a high plateau several hundred thousand years ago. It also was a cost-effective, independently-targetable, high efficiency guided missile. Amazing how history (or perhaps "herstory", as the feminists insist) cyclically repeats itself! ;))
Good engineers invent. Great engineers steal.
The greatest engineers do both.
I wonder if any of the Iranian design team is left? We should send some LUCAS' to check.
This so called "weapon" is just another outrageous example of the lawless, corrupt Trump-Hegseth heretical-JCIDS-denying-crony-capitialism-out-of-control-defense spending. Bringing this travesty of a "weapon system" into the field without the proper in-depth studies, test plans, acquisition strategies, road maps and implementation plans is not only a major violation of acquisition policy and regulations, but has huge economic impact on prime defense contractors, K-street lobbyists, and recently retired SES and flag officers whose recent appointments (and exorbitant salaries) are proving to have a negative return on investment. I call on congressional democrats and RINOs in both the house and senate to formally sign a protest and appear at a rally to be held this weekend. This must not stand!.../SARCASM OFF...I'm kidding...sort of...
*slow clap* You had me going while reading the first sentence.
We need more environmental impact studies. One per proposed LUCAS launch should do nicely.
"You may launch the drone once the authorization paperwork exceeds the weight of said drone"?
I see what your doing. Bravo
You mean there is insufficient grifting opportunity.
Something with a bigger warhead for a few thousand more would be useful.
It's always for x more, we could do y, and then it's 5 years late costs as much as a SM-6 and we can only make 2 a year.....
Day one in my engineering degree the prof had us write down "The enemy of good, is perfect".
"It's not just good; it's good enough!"
Even if you don't get it on day one, you will see somewhere in your 4 years.
Calm-down, lets see how the Mk1Mod0 model does, we're just 3-days into this
That is counter to success. As someone with Hardware development experience I fully embrace MVP release for every product.
It not only speeds roll out but speeds innovation.
This is the kind of rapid development and employment last truly seen during WWII. Nothing says it has to be perfect, just functional and mission capable. Mounting on ships is kind of reminiscent of the large rocket batteries installed on LSTs and LCIs and used during beach landing bombardments.
"Done" is not a four-letter word!
Not like wo*k.
A little off topic, but I have a board wargame called Omaha: The Bloody Beach (MMP/The Gamers). It models those rocket LCIs in a way that gives a whole new meaning to the term "beaten zone." Yikes.
Any position worth flattening is worth being addressed fully, as demonstrated by this LCT(R).
https://www.combinedops.com/COM_PHOTOS/LCT%20R%20440_small.jpg
Wait until they actually get serious about HIMARS on a ship.
Spent 20 years of my career trying to make that happen. Finally started to happen when the enlisted Marines noticed that the launcher software allowed them to get firing solutions on the moving deck when real missiles loaded. Navy Raytheon mafia pitched fits.
I don't mind giving the bombs and bullets mafia an atomic wedgey.
How about a proliferation of mobile, laser guided hydra rocket point defense systems now? Also seems like a good idea for low cost shipboard point defense.
Let's not forget that the Iranians had a Lockheed Martin RQ-170 to study and practice with. Hat's off to them for figuring out how to capture it.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iran%E2%80%93U.S._RQ-170_incident
Shahed drone - invented by Iran, glorified by Russia, now copied by America)
One important good thing for US - American military finally saw that if other guys have efficient and perfected weapon system, then the simplest way to get one for themselves is just to copy. Not trying to develope something much better, spending billions; just took the existing design and adapt it.
P.S. Of course, now you can't claim that "China is stealing our tech!" anymore.
If we are making these for kess than Iran or Russia, therr is still something of ours they can steal.
Of course that claim can still be made.
The hell we can't.
Oh YES! BZ to Task Force Scorpion.
And by "swarm" we don't mean 10, or 20. How about 200 or 500 or more, coming from all points of the compass. Followed fifteen minutes later - the time it takes to dump the empty containers over the side and open the lids of the next layer - by another 200.
Launched from container ships laid up doggo in ports in Vietnam, Hainan, Taiwan, Shanghai, South Korea...
Or L.A., Seattle, Houston, Norfolk, New York, New Jersey...
That’s one of my nightmares, along with the container ship laying a delayed-action minefield on the way out.
Imagine an updated version of a Time On Target artillery strike, only with LUCAS drones.
Launch the first wave on long routes. Launch the second wave on shorter routes. Both arrive at the same time.
[ cue delighted chortling ]
The funniest part of the whole story is that Shahed is a copy of a Chinese copy of an Israeli anti-radar drone. Everything comes full circle.
Speaking of math, the strategic message to adversaries is that first, we have not yet really tried to be innovative just more adoptive and efficient. While you ponder that you might consider what $35M a day in desk top computers and pickup trucks delivered with the same efficiency might look like...
BZ to everyone involved in this!
And just how 'small' is the warhead?
According to https://dsm.forecastinternational.com/2025/12/22/lucas-scaling-the-drone-war/ the answer is 40#. That same source says our version is a lesser animal than the Shahed 136, and costs a tad more.
Well, hopefully ours are more reliable.
And more accurate...
God bless the LCS Crews! 🪝🧰⛓️🪛⚙️🧲⚡🎛️🛠️
They have busted their asses off for a decade now to get the platform usable. 🥵✔️👏🏻🇺🇲👍🏼🔔
⚓🌊⏰ Semper Fortis Amigo,
Pray like one of your own children was manning the walls of the Polis today! 😌🕯️📿